Netsuke - Fox in Guise of a Human Holding a Fish

This is a resin reproduction of a nineteenth century ivory netsuke from the collection of The San Diego Museum of Art. The fox (kitsune) is considered the master of transformation. In Japanese folklore the fox is perhaps the strangest animal of all. Many marvelous tales have been told of his powers and pranks. This intricately carved netsuke shows the impish fox disguised in a mask, robe, and straw hat and carrying a blowfish. the only giveaway of his true identity is his bushy tail coming out from under his robes.